March 20, 2013

Bafana Bafana vs the Central African Republic: more international soccer for Cape Town

Bafana Bafana plays in a World Cup qualifying match at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening.

That the national side is playing in Cape Town for the second time this year is good news for soccer fans, considering that it previously took the team almost three years to come back to the Mother City. Thousands of green and yellow-wearing fans are expected at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday to cheer on the national side.

And if all goes according to plan, we could very well see international clubs play at the Cape Town Stadium, as the city grows its reputation as a sports destination.

The Mayoral Committee member for Tourism, Events and Marketing, Grant Pascoe, says Capetonians should wear green and yellow to the game on Saturday, which kicks off at 20h15.

This fixture marks the first official step in Bafana’s bid towards the World Cup. The upcoming game is expected to attract approximately 40 000 spectators.

South African currently ranks 60th among the world’s soccer teams, and Central African Republic ranks 51st.

In January, the City of Cape Town hosted Bafana Bafana when the team played their last warm-up match ahead of the African Cup of Nations, against Norway. The two teams met in a friendly encounter, playing to a packed Cape Town Stadium.

Pascoe says there is also the chance that Cape Town may host more well-known international clubs in the coming months, as the city continues to grow its reputation as a leading sports destination. He recently travelled to London to meet representatives of three English Premier League clubs to discuss the possibility of the teams’ training or pre-season tours taking place at the stadium.